Electric-arc lamp.



Patented July 24, I900. H. PIEPER, FILS. ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

(Application filed Dec. 28, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

W'n a sway:

m: NORRIS PETERS CO.-PHOTO-LIYHD., WASH1NGTON, u. c.

Nb. 654,277. Patented July 24, I900.

H. PIEPER, FILS.

ELECTRIC ABC LAMP.

(Application filed Dec. 28, 1897.]

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

uumn, D. c.

m: NORRIS PETERS co, PHOTOVLITNO, WASHI UNITED STATES PATENT Price.

I-IENRI PIEPER, FILS, OF LIEGE, BELGIUM.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAM P.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 654,277, dated July 24,1900. Application filed December 28, 1897- Serial No. 663,825. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRI PIEPER, Fils, a subject of the King ofBelgium, residing at Liege, in the Kingdom of Belgium, have in vented anew and useful Regulator for Electrio-Arc Lamps, (for which I haveobtained patents in Belgium, dated December 17, 1895;

in Austria, No. 3,575, dated September 16,

1896; in Hungary, No. 7,3at8, dated February 19, 1896; in Great Britain,No. 11,230, dated May 22, 1896, and in France, No. 257,248, dated June15, 1896,) of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to electricarc lamps in which theregulation of the arc is automatically effected in such a manner that acatching member for a running member fixed to the holder of the uppercarbon, which is movable vertically, is subjected to the simultaneouslybut oppositely acting forces of a spring or weight and the core of anelectromagnet or solenoid, the force of said core being varied by thevariations which occur in the length of the arc. According as one or theother of the two forces overcomes the other one the catching member willeither be engaged with the running member or withdrawn. The withdrawalallows the upper carbon to descend by its own weight to approach thelower carbon, which is either retained in a fixed position or caused toascend by being connected with the upper one through a cord or chainpassing around a pulley or through a rack-and-pinion connection or otherknown means.

My aim is to so organize the regulating apparatus that the'regulation iscaused to begin the very moment the normal length of arc is altered, tocontinue, if required, by a series of as minute steps as possible, andto discontinue the Very moment the normal length of arc isreestablished, so that the regulation may be said to perform in apractically-continuous manner.

In order to obtain the result aimed at, the present inventionessentially consists in combining with the usual electric connections ofthe regulating-coil a shunt, placing the catching and running members ofthe regulating apparatus in that shunt as cooperating contact-pieces foropening and closing the same, and providing means for so altering theforce of the regulating-coil by the opening of the said shunt as will berequired for at once causing the catching member to be reengaged intothe running member to relock the upper carbon, and thereby reclose theshunt. It is easily to be understood that by this arrangement I am.enabled to avail myself of the catching member for the directadministration of the regulating-current Without sparking being causedto take place between the contact-pieces. As this suppression of thesparking allows the course or lifting of the catching member to bereduced to such a minimum distance as will just suflice for clearing therunning member, the relocking of the upper carbon can be effectedwithout shock instantaneously. Moreover, a rack or a toothed wheel canbe used as the'running member in order to render the steps uniformwithout interfering with the minuteness of the steps, since thepractically-imperceptible interval between break and make of the contactallows the teeth to be as fine as possible.

The invention can be made use of in lamps the regulating-coil of whichis placed in a shunt to the are as well as in lamps in which said coilis placed in the arc-circuit proper.

For altering or modifying the force of the regulating-coil I may use aresistance-coil or my invention.

The type of arc-lamps taken as an example is the well-known one in whichthe carbonholders, of which the upper one is heavier than the lower one,are attached to the ends of a cord orchain passing around a pulley, withwhich is combined a ratchet-wheel retained by a pawl as long as the arcis of normal length, so that when the pawl is withdrawn the upper carbonbecomes active as a weight and turns the pulley whereby the carbons arefed toward each other.

Figure 1 is a diagram of a lamp of which the regulating-coil, being thecoil of an electromagnet, is placed in a shunt to the arc, the force ofthe magnet being reduced through the medium of a resistance-coil whichis inserted between the regulating-coil and the negative lamp-terminalby the break of contact between the ratchet-wheel and pawl. Fig. 2 is adiagram of a lamp of like description, the reduction of the force of theregulating-coil being produced by a reverselywound coil on theelectromagnet-core. Fig. 3 is a diagram of a lamp of which theregulating-coil, being a solenoid-coil, is placed in series with thearc, the force of the regulatin g-coil being strengthened by thewitl'idrawal of the pawl from the ratchet-wheel allowing the fullcurrent to act as a magnetizing-current. Fig. 4 is a diagram of a lampof like description, the force of the solenoid-coil being strengthenedby the break of contact cutting out a reversely-wound additional coil onthe core.

In all the figures like parts are denoted by like characters.

With reference to Fig. 1, a is the usual base-plate for supporting theregulating apparatus and other appliances. 1) is one of a pair ofbearings secured to the base-plate, in which is mounted the pulley a,supporting the cord or chain d, to the ends of which are attached thecarbon-holders e and f, with the carbons g and h. Fixed to the spindle cof pulley c or to the latter is a ratchet-wheel i, having very fineteeth. The pawl k, cooperating with said wheel, is pivotally mounted atin a little post 70 secured to the upper face of the upwardly-in clinedri ght-h and arm of a bent lever Z, which is pivoted at its elbow in thebearing 1) at Z. The left-hand arm of lever Z is fixed to the upper endof a spiral spring m, fixed with its lower end to the baseplate andtending to engage the pawl into the ratchet-wheel. To the end of theright-hand arm of lever Z is secured the armature 'n' of anelectromagnet n. 91 indicates the coil, and n the core of thiselectromagnet. The core 72 has its upper end beveled in accordance withthe inclination of armature n. The pawl 70 is well insulated from boththe lever and the armature, as indicated by the thick line 70. Thedistance between the working edge of the pawl and the teeth of theratchetwheel is adjustable by means of a fine-threaded screw 76*, havingits nut in the post k and projecting through the latter so as to form abutt for the tailpiece it of the pawl, the latter being held againstsaid butt by a spring 7.2 fixed to the post 70 The arc-circuit of thelamp is as follows: from the positive terminal through conductor Z tothe upper-carbon holder 6, and from the lower-carbon holder f throughconductor 2 to the negative terminal. The usual shunt is from conductor1 through conductor 3, branched off at 1 electromagnet-coil of,conductor 4, and resistance-coil o to a point 2 of conductor 2. Theadditional shunt is from conductor 2 at a point (V, through cond uctorU,base-plate a,and bearing Z) to ratchet-wheel 2', and from pawl 7;;through conductor 5 to a point i of conductor 4:. Supposing the lamp beburning with the pawl engaged into the ratchet-wheel, then theregulatingcurrent flows from 1 through conductor 3, coil n ofelectromagnet a, conductor 4, conductor 5, pawl 7c, ratchet-wheel 2',hearing I), baseplate a, and conductor 6 to conductor 2. If the currentis cut off, the electromagnet becomes demagnetized and the sprin gmpulls down the left-hand arm of lever Z, so that pawl 7; turns the wheeli to the left, and thereby moves the carbons apart from each other. Theparts remain in this position until current is admitted anew. lVhencurrent is admitted, it cannot take its way through the carbons, but iscaused to pass through conductor 3, electromagnet-coil a, conductor 4,conductor 5, pawl 7.5, ratchetwheel 1', bearing 1), base-plate a, andconductor 6 to conductor 2, and out through the negative terminal, withthe effect of strongly magnetizing the core a which suddenly attractsthe armature 02 against the pull of spring on, and thereby at once pullsdown the right-hand arm of lever Z, with the effect of withdrawing thepawl from the ratchet-wheel, so that the current passes fromelectromagnetcoil 07. through resistance-coil 0 to conductor 2, and theratchet-wheel turns to the right under the pull of the upper carbonacting as a weight and the carbons approach each other. At this momentthe weakening ellect of resistance 0 is, however, not sufficient forallowing the spring m to overcome the magnetic attraction and to replacethe pawl into the ratchet-wheel, but the carbons will move closelytogether and make contact with each other. This contact has the effectof fully diverting the current from the regulatingcoilnZthe wholecurrent passing directly from conductor 1 through the carbons to theconductor 2. The electromagnet becomes consequently demagnetized and thespring on at once pulls down the lever-arm, so that the pawl engageswith the ratchet-wheel, turning the same to the left, whereby thecarbons are moved apart from each other with formation of the arc andreestablishing the circuit through the electromagnet. This moving apartof the carbons continues until the magnetization of the core a hasbecome so strong as to balance the pull of spring on. The arc has thenits normal length. NVhen the arc grows beyond its normal length by theburning away of the carbons, more current is allowed to flow through theelectromagnet, whereby thesame is caused to attract the armature, withthe effect of withdrawing the pawl from the ratchet-wheel, so that thecarbons are allowed to approach each other. The very moment, however,the contact is broken between the pawl and the ratchetwheel the currentis caused to take its way through the resistance-coil 0, connected inseries with the electromagnet-coil 91?, whereby the magnetization of theelectromagnetcore is so much reduced that the spring m can at oncereengage the pawl into the ratchet-wheel,thereby locking the carbon andreestablishing the shunt around the resistance-coih Should this firstregulation not suffice for restoring the normal length of arc, andconsequently the normal magnetization of core 12 then the reclosure ofcontact 2' will allow the electromagnet to again attract the armaturewith the same result as before, and so on until reestablishment of thenormal length of arc is obtained.

Break and make of the contact between the pawl-and the ratchet-wheelfollow each other so rapidly that the ratchet-wheel is allowed to turnby one tooth only.

If from any cause, as by-the accumulation of particles of the uppercarbon upon the lower one, the length of arc should become too short,this would have the effect of diverting more current from the contact 701', so that the attraction of the electromagnet would be reduced, andconsequently the spring m allowed to move the carbons apart by turningthe ratchet-wheel to the left until reestablishment of the normal lengthof arc is obtained and the magnetization so strengthened as to balancethe spring.

It will easily be understood by any electrician that the simultaneity ofthe break of contact 7c 2' and the continuation of the current-passagethrough the coil 0, as well as that of the make of said contact and theshunting of the resistance 0, prevents any sparking from taking placebetween the pawl and the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, and thusconstitutes asafeguard against the burning away of those parts; that,moreover, owing to the suppression of said sparking the distance thepawl has to be lifted away from the ratchetwheel can be made such aminimum distance as is just suflicient for releasing the ratchet wheel,and that consequently the relocking of the latter can take place withoutshock so rapidly that said wheel is allowed only to turn by the width ofone tooth.

The lamp represented in Fig. 2, which is in all other regards alike tothe lamp shown in Fig. 1, differs from the latter in that instead ofemploying a resistance-coil, such as 0, Fig. 1, for weakening themagnetization of electromagnet n the latter is provided with anadditional reversely-wound coil 17; of less windings than themagnetizing-coil n proper, with which it is connected in series, thepoint of connection being in electric communication with pawl 70 throughconductor 5. WVhen with this arrangement the pawl 79 is engaged in theratchet-wheel t',current passes from conductor 1 through conductor 3,electromagnet coil n conductor 5, pawl 70, ratchet-wheel 1', bearing 19,base-plate a, and conductor 6 to conductor 2. When the pawl iswithdrawn, the current passes from coil n through coil n and conductor 7to conductor 2. As coil n is reversely wound it at once reduces themagnetization produced by coil n whereby spring m is allowed at once toreengage the'pawl in the ratchet-wheel.

In Fig. 3 a lamp is shown the regulatingcoil of which is placed inseries with the arc. In this lamp a solenoid-coil p, with a movable core3, is used instead of an electromagnet. The corep is fixed upon asliding rod 13 the left-hand end of which is articulated in p to a rigidarm Z of lever l. The right-hand end of rod 19 is supported and guidedin the lower end of a depending flat spring 19*, fixed with its upperend at 19 As mentioned, the coil p is in series connection with thearcthat is to say, it is placed in or forms a part of the conductor 2.At a point 5 behind the coil electrical communication is established between the conductor 2 and the pawl it through a conductor 5, in which isplaced a resistancecoil q. The ratchet-wheelt' is in electriccommunication with the conductor 2 at a point 6* in advance of coil 1)through bearing 19, baseplate Ct, and conductor 6. The left-hand end oflever Z is in this lamp fixed to the lower end of a spiral spring 0*,tending to withdraw the pawl 70 from the ratchet-wheel i. From this itresults that when the lamp is without current the pawl is withdrawn, sothat the carbons make contact with each other. When current is admittedto the lamp, it passes from the positive terminal through conductor 1,carbons g h, conductor 2, solenoid-coil p, and conductor 2 to thenegative terminal and the core 19 is at once drawn to the right, wherebythe lever Z is so turned that the pawl 76 engages with the ratchet-wheeli and turns the same to the left, so that the carbons are moved apartfrom each other with formation of the arc and part of the currentallowed to flow from conductor 2 through conductor 6, base-plate a,bearing 1), ratchet-wheel 71, pawl 7c, conductor 5, and resistance-coilq back to conductor 2. In the beginning the amount of current thusdiverted from the coil 13 is not sufficient for so weakening the forceof the latter as is necessary for allowing the spring 1' to withdrawthe. pawl from the ratchetwheel, so that the carbons continue to moveapart until the arc is of normal length. During the establishment of thenormal arc-length the diversion of current from the coilp augments, andconsequently the attractive force of the latter decreases accordingly,and the moment the normal arc-length is arrived at said attractive forcehas become so reduced that it is balanced by the spring r. When the arcgrows beyond its normal length by the consumption of the carbons, theflow of current through coil 9 will be reduced accordingly, so that thespring 0 overcomes the attractive force of coil 13 and withdraws thepawl from the ratchet-wheel, whereby the carbons are caused to approacheach other. Now the moment the pawlis lifted the shunt is opened, andconsequently the whole current allowed to pass through coil 23, with theeffect of increasing its attraction, so that the pawl 7: is at oncereengaged into the ratchetwheel, relocking the carbons and reclosing theshunt. Should this regulation not suffice, then the make of contact 7twill at once so weaken the force of coil 1) that it will be overcomebythe spring 1'' and the pawl lifted anew, with the result of allowingthe carbons to approach by a further step and breaking the contact i,the latter having the effect of strengthening atonce the force ofcoil 1) and relocking thereby the ratchet-wheel, and so on until thenormal length of arc will be reestablished. Should the arc become tooshort, then the force of coil 1; will be so strengthened as to overcomethe pull of spring '7", and consequently to turn the ratchet-wheel tothe left.

In Fig. 4, which represents a lamp of the same type as the one shown inFig. 3, the arrangement is somewhat different in that the weakening ofthe force of coil 1) is brought about by the action of a reversely-woundadditional coil 19" for the core 19, said coil 19 exerting a weakerattraction than the coil 19. The connections of the coils are asfollows: from conductor 2 through conductor 6, baseplate (6, coil 19 toconductor 2 and the negative terminal, from base-plate a through bearingbtoratchet-wheel t', and from pawl 7- through conductor 5,reversely-wound coil 13 c011- ductor 8 to the negative terminal. Whenthe current is cut off from the lamp, the pawl 7c is lifted and thecarbons are close together. When current is admitted, all of the samepasses through coil 19, with the effect of at once engaging the pawlinto the ratchetwheel, moving the carbons apart from each other andforming the are, all as described with reference to Fig. 3. Then thepawl is engaged in the ratchet-wheel, part of the current will flow frombase-plate a through bearing 1), ratchet-wheel t', pawl 7c, andreverselywound coil 13 However, this flow of current will not besuflicient for reducing the force of coil 13 to such an amount that thespring 0* could withdraw the pawl. Consequently the carbons willcontinue to move apart until the surplus of force of coil 1) is balancedby the spring 7'. WVhen the are grows beyond its normal length, lesscurrent will flow through the coils 19p and the spring 7' thereby beallowed to lift the pawl, which results in causing the carbons to movetogether and cutting out the reducing-coil p whereby the force ofcoil 1) is so increased as to enable it to at once rcengage the pawl inthe ratchet-wheel, thereby relocking the carbons and reclosing thecircuit of coil p so that should this regulation not suffice the springrcan at once become active anew, and so on until the normal length of arcis obtaiued.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. In an electricarc lamp, the combination with a movable upper carbon,a lower car bon, the circuit connections for the carbons, a coil forcontrolling the movable carbon, of a shunt for the regulating-current, aratchet- Wheel having finely-divided teeth, and connected with themovable carbon, a pawl controlled by the oppositely-acting forces of aspring and the said coil for releasing, feeding back and relocking thesaid ratchetwvheel, and means whereby the break of said shunt has theeffect of modifying the force of said .coil, substantially as and forthe purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination with a movable upper carbon,a lower carbon, circuit connections for the carbons, and a coil forcontrolling the movable carbon of a shunt for regulating the current,aratchetwheel having finely-divided teeth, and connected with themovable carbon, and a pawl mounted on the upwardly-inclined arm of abent lever pivoted at its elbow controlled by the oppositely-actingforces of a spring and the said coil for releasing, feeding back andrelocking the said ratchet-wheel,substantially as and for the purposeshereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set myhand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HENRI PIEPER, FILS.

IVitnesses:

L. PAUCHENNE, Jr., M. PREUDHOMME.

